A 66-year-old man was struck and killed by a U.S. Postal Service truck while crossing Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen early on a Saturday morning in August. The driver left the scene, and police are still searching for them. For the victim’s family, the questions ahead are painful, and the legal path is more complicated than most crash cases.
What Happened on Ninth Avenue
The crash occurred just after 5:30 a.m. on Ninth Avenue between West 54th and West 55th streets. Police say the man was crossing Ninth Avenue mid-block when he was struck by a USPS truck, and the driver did not remain at the scene.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. As of the initial reports, no arrests had been made, and the NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad was investigating. USPS said it was cooperating fully with law enforcement. The full account is available in the ABC7 New York report.
Leaving the scene of a fatal crash is a felony in New York. But criminal charges, if they come, will not compensate this man’s family. That is what a civil claim is for.
Why Claims Involving USPS Trucks Are Different
Most people assume a truck crash claim works the same way regardless of who owns the truck. It does not. When the vehicle belongs to the Postal Service, the claim runs against the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, and the rules change significantly:
- You must file an administrative claim with USPS before you can sue
- The government generally has six months to respond
- The case is heard in federal court, without a jury
- Strict deadlines apply, and missing one can end the claim permanently
Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the administrative claim must generally be filed within two years of the incident. That sounds like plenty of time. In practice, building a properly documented federal claim takes months, and families should not wait.
The Mid-Block Crossing Question
Police noted the victim was crossing mid-block. New York follows a comparative negligence rule, which means a pedestrian’s own conduct may reduce a recovery but does not automatically bar one. Drivers, including postal drivers, still owe a duty of care to people in the roadway. A driver who strikes someone and flees has serious questions to answer about speed, attention, and visibility at 5:30 in the morning.
What the Investigation Will Look At
The Highway Collision Investigation Squad handles the city’s most serious crashes. Its findings, along with USPS route records, vehicle data, and any surveillance footage from Ninth Avenue businesses, will shape both the criminal case and the civil one. Evidence like this can disappear or be overwritten quickly. A prompt preservation demand protects it.
What the Family Can Do Now
A wrongful death claim in this situation may cover funeral expenses, the financial support the victim provided, and the pain he endured before his death. Because the responsible vehicle was federal, the family faces procedural requirements that do not exist in an ordinary crash case, and those requirements are unforgiving.
At The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP, we have handled fatal crash cases across New York City for decades, including claims involving commercial and government vehicles. We understand what the federal claims process demands and how to build a case while the criminal investigation is still open.
Anyone who has lost a loved one to a crash like this Manhattan truck accident should get clear answers before any deadline becomes a problem. A Manhattan, NY truck accident lawyer families rely on can explain how the process works, preserve the evidence that matters, and pursue the claim on your behalf. If your family has been affected by a Manhattan truck accident involving a postal or commercial vehicle, contact our office to discuss your options.